Question

The myth described in the passage gave rise to the phrase “between Scylla and Charybdis.” Which other idiomatic phrase conveys the same meaning?
a fate worse than death
to sign one's own death warrant
between a rock and a hard place
read between the lines

Answer 1

The hero Odysseus spent nine years returning home after the Trojan War. During his voyage by
sea, he came upon Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla was an enormous sea monster with numerous
hands and six dog heads sprouting from her body; she ate men alive. Charybdis was a
tremendous whirlpool that digested ships whole. Since the only way to get home was to choose
one of these routes, Odysseus had to choose one horror or the other. He chose Scylla, losing six
crewmen to Scylla's hunger.